William Bailey, DDS, MPH joins CU Dental faculty

Inaugural Delta Dental of Colorado Endowed Chair in the Prevention of Early Childhood Caries

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William Bailey, DDS, MPH

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The School of Dental Medicine is pleased to welcome William Bailey, D.D.S., M.P.H. as the school’s inaugural Delta Dental of Colorado Endowed Chair in Prevention of Early Childhood Caries, effective August 1, 2014.

Bailey was formally introduced during an endowed chair reception hosted by Delta Dental of Colorado August 13 at the Wellshire Event Center, Denver, Colo.
Bailey, a 1982 graduate of the dental school, spent more than three decades of his career serving communities around the state and nation.

Recently retired as the Assistant U.S. Surgeon General, Bailey earned the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Corps while serving as the Chief Professional Officer for the Dental Category. His broad experience in public health dentistry builds upon the school’s existing commitment to serving the oral health needs of Colorado communities.

“I am delighted to join the progressive and dynamic team at my alma mater, the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine,” shared Bailey. “And I look forward to working with others to improve the health of our children.”

Dr. Bailey is no stranger to the fight against early childhood caries. He has worked with many different communities –with refugees in Denver, children in Guam, and with Native American communities in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. During his time as the CDC Division of Oral Health’s Acting Director and Senior Advisor for Oral Health, he led community-based activities to prevent oral disease.

As the endowed chair, Bailey will contribute to the design of statewide public health policies and practices, establish public health dental curricula in partnership with the Colorado School of Public Health, provide advocacy for children’s health issues, work with local foundations to design projects that support local communities, teach dental and graduate students, and perform scholarly activity that serves to promote children’s health and results in the prevention of early childhood caries.

The Endowed Chair in the Prevention of Early Childhood Caries was created through a generous donation from Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation.

“Thanks to the generosity of Delta Dental of Colorado, we have an opportunity to utilize Bill’s national expertise to make significant impact on the oral of health of Colorado’s children,” said Denise Kassebaum, D.D.S., M.S. dean of the School of Dental Medicine.

Learn more about the school's current public health programs and pledge your support to create and brighten the smiles of Colorado's children.